Puncture-proof wheel.



W. J. HIGGS.

PUNCTURE PROOF WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILEDJAN. 21. 1915.

3L,15Q.,5O@., Patenteti Sept. 7, 1915.

2- SHEETS-SHEET I.

. I W. J.

W. J. HiGGS.

PUNCTURE PROOF WHEEL.

APPLICATION Hun IMLZI, 1915.

maww, PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

curios.

WALLACE J'. HIGGS, 0F LEI-II, UTAH.

PUNCTURE-PBOOE WHEEL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1915.

Application filed January 27, 1915. Serial No. 4,731.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLAGE 'J. HIGGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lehi, in the county of Utah and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puncture-Proof Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wheels of the class of yieldable wheels, and has for one .of its objects to provide a simply constructed device whereby all the advantages of the ordinary pneumatic tire are retained without danger of puncture.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wheel having an inflatable inner tire and a plurality of bearing devices externally of the inflatable tire and arranged to interlock to prevent their peripheral. displacement, while at the same time permitting any of the marginal units to be replaced when broken or impaired without disturbing the remainder of the wheel.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and 'described and then specifically pointed out in. the claims; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved wheel; Fig. 2 represents perspective views of a plurality of'marginal units illustrating their construction; Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the marginal units in section; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating a slight modification in the construction. I

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The central or body portion of the -wheel may be of any of the usual forms-and includes a hub 10, spokes 11 and felly member 12. The felly member 12 is likewise provided with a rim 13 having inturned flanges 14 of the usual form employed upon wheels for 'supporting pneumatic tires of the usual construction.

In theimproved device, an inflatable tire 'nals of the curved -are rounded at their -15 having outwardly directed enlargements 'usual manner by the inturned portions 14 of the rim 13, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The tire 1516 is adapted to be inflated in the usual manner through the valve device 19.'

Externally of the inflatable tires 15-l6, a plurality of bearing units are employed and preferably constructed of hollow metal members. The bearing units are constructed in pairs and arranged in alternating relations. One set of the bearing units is indicated at 20 and the other set at 21. The inner ends of the bearing units 20 are hollow or curved inwardly as represented at 22 to respectively bear over the projecting portions 16 of the inflatable tire and are reduced at their outer ends as represented at 23, whereby formed near their outer ends. The termiportion 22 of the bearing units 20 are extended to form laterally curving lips 25 which are rounded so that they will not cut into the relatively soft material of the inflatable tire. The bearing units '21 inner ends and engage between each pair of the bearing units 20 and are enlarged laterally at their outer ends as represented at 26 to form projecuniform distances apart. The inlateral bearing shoulders 24 are tions for bearing upon the shoulders 24 of i the units 20. Each of the bearing units 21 is provided with vertically directed transverse slots 27 in their side faces, the object to be hereafter explained.

Bearing upon the outer faces of the united bearing units 2021 are annular holding plates 2829, the plates extending at their inner edges partially over the sides of the inflatable tire and spaced at their outer edges inwardly from" the outer faces of the bearing units. The .side edges of the outer ends of the bearing units are extended laterally as represented respectively at 3031 to extend over the outer edges'of the members 2829, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

By this means,the bearing units are free I to move. inwardly a distance equal to the space between the overhanging portions 3031 and the outer edges of the members 28.29. Clamp; bolts 32 are extended through the members 28-29 and likewise I through the slots 27 of the bearing units :and the sides of the'members 21 are prevented-from collapsing throughthe influence of the sleeves 33. The felly member 12 and the members 28-29 arecoupled by flexible guard device's to protect the inflat able tire; Thecmembers andthegfelly- 12 are connectedat suitable-" intervals-by straps 3637,-the'strapscorresponding pref erably in numbers with the' spokes. 1 1,'. ,as=

' shown.

v The members me constructed of any suitable materialand'bf anysuitable weight, but will Preferablybiof. hollow metal of suflicient strength to-withstand' the wear and friction to which they will-be sub- .-jected when in use. The body portionsaofthe members 21 willgbe spaced "afsutfieient'" distance from the contiguous faces of the;interposed-between the first mentione bearmembers 20 to permita certain degree of flexibility orv movement between'the parts to prevent cramping when in "use".

40 that in the event ofbreakage or impairment.

of one or more of the bearing-units, the broken or impaired part may be readily rei moved by detaching the clamp bolts .32 and.-

is claimed asnew is:

By this arrangement, it will be obvious replacing the same with a perfect unit or units without disturbing the remainder of the wheel.

e inexpensively manufactured and and employed tor various purposes. he improved wheel will be found. espewise readily adapted to. automobiles of various forms.

Having thus descrili ed'the invention, what lsIn device oft-the..classi described, an

inner wheel, an inflatable tire" engaging said wheel, a plurality of bearing units spaced I apart and engaging the said tire by their inner ends, a plurality of-other bearing units inte rposed between the .firstmentioned By this 1 terposed between the first mentioned bearing units and spaced at their inner endsfrom 'said inflatable tire, and means for limiting the outward movement of said interposed bearing units. a H R 3. In a device'of the class-described, an inner wheel, an inflatable tire engaging said wheel, a plurality of bearing units spaced apart and engaging tire by their inner ends, 4

a plurality. of other'bearing' units interposed betweem'the first 'mentio ned bearing ,units i: ands aced'at-their innerends from said :infla'ta le.tire, annular membersdisposed at oppo sitesides' of saidbearing units, ma s vfor."connecting said annular members tO' S&1d'

inner wheel, and fastening devices .movably coupling said" interposer l bearing units to said'annulari members.

-4; In a: deviceof-the class described, an inner wheel, an inflatable tire engaging said wheel, afplurality of bearing units spaced apart and engaging said tire'bytheir inner ends and each provided with lateral bearing shoulders, a-plurality ofother bearin units ing units and having lateral pro1ecti0ns engaging the bea'ring shoulders of the first: mentioned bearing units and spaced at their inner ends from said inflatabletir'e, and I means for limiting the outward movement oftheinterposed bearing units... I

. 5. In a device o'fthe class described, an' .inner .wheel, fan inflatable tire engaging saidwheel, adplura'lity of bearing units .spaced v apart. an

p .menti'oned bearing units and spaced at their cially useful under'motor trucks and heavier, innerends from said inflatable tire, annular grades of similar vehicles, but may be likenularmembers-to said inner wheel, and fas--- tening devices movably coupling said interposed bearing unitsto said annular memers.. r' 6. In a-device of the class described, an inner wheel, an inflatable tire engaging said wheel, a plurality of bearing units spaced apart and engaging said tire by their inner ends; a plurality of other, bearing units in- 1,152,508 &

terposed between the first mentioned bear- In testimony whereof I affix my signaing units and spaced at their 111116" ends ture 1n presence of two wltnesses. from said inflatable tire annular members LA-EmI-II .'L.. disposed upon opposite sides of said bearing WAL C J GGS S 1 units, and a plurallty of chps spaced apart WVlt-nesses: and unltlng said annular members to said EDUARD SOUTHWIGK,

inner Wheel. THOR CEDARSTROM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 6 

